Fluid treating apparatus



March 10, 1942. G, KUHN FLUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l m w 155: n:: 7. {i IttIt+ U ZIL J TUZZI:

Y A I l IN ENTOR GEORGE K0 ll mp March 10,1942. G. KUHN 2,275,444

FLUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Spt. 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I II I I I I ||III UIIIIII IIII I I II IL I ATTORNEY March 10, 1942. U 2,275,444

FLUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 10, 1942. KuH 2,275,444

' FLUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20,- 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR 650265 K ,v

ATTORNEY production of unbalanced forces.

Patented Mar. 10, 1942 .umrao- STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID APPARATUS Q I 7 George Kuhn, Silver Spring, Md. Application September 20, 1937, Serial No. 164,820

13 Claims.

This inventionrelates to the washing and cleaning of fabrics and articles and more particularly pertains to power driven washing and cleaning machines.

The invention provides a washing and cleaning machine which provides all essential operations to effect a rapid and thorough cleaning or washing of the articles without vibration or the The operation performed by the machine include circulation of the articles in the' washing fluid, scrubbing and shaking of the articles, agitating and flexing of the fabric of the articles and rapidly pulsating the fluid through the fabric.

The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. 9

when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of part of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, showing another form of washing machine;

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line [-5 view taken on line 6-6 8, I Fig. is a fragmentary elevational view showing another means for supporting the pulsator cylinder, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of central portion I5 and a drain it connects'with the lowermost part of the bottom i I.

The fluid circulating or propellingfmeans is axially disposed in the tub ill and, in general. comprises a pulsator consisting-of a hollow tubularmembersuch as a cylinder i1 and a piston II, and an element such as a fluid propelling and directing piston skirt ID. The cylinder II is of metal and has a closed upper end and an open lower end around the outer periphery of which is a ring ofrubber or other suitable material. The cylinder is secured on the upper end of a reciprocabie shaft 2| which passes, through the upper end of the cylinder and the lower end of the cylinder is submerged so long as the water or other fluid 22 is maintained at substantially the level shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner and outer walls of the cylinder are disposed, parallel to the direction of motion of the cylinder and 'Fig.11 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a further arrangement for supporting the stationary pulsator cylinder.

Like characters of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to-Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference character ill designates the tub of the washing machine which is preferably .cylindrical in form with a closed bottom II and an opening 12 at the top whichis closed by a-hinged cover duringnormal operation the cylinder is neither completely submerged nor entirely out of thefluid so that splashing is prevented. The pulsator piston i8 is a cylindrical metallic member shaped similarly to the cylinder H but is of sufficiently smaller diameter to provide an annular opening 91 .of substantial flow area between the cylinder and piston through which the fluid may readily flow. The piston is axially disposed with respect to the cylinder and is. mounted on a fitting 23,

- end of the piston It. The fluid propelling and directing skirt I! has an outer surface which curves gradually outwardly and downwardly and has a metallic upper part and a flexible fin 2B which is preferably rubber but may be of other suitable flexible material, secured to the upper part. The upper end of the skirt I9 is secured to the fitting 28 and the skirt is axially disposed with respect to the piston l8. and cylinder IT. The piston skirt 19 may be made integral with or separate from the piston I8 and may have other shapes than that disclosed. For example, the outer surface of the skirt may be shaped so that it is horizontal, or approximately so, with a fin on its periphery which extends downwardly and outwardly like the fin 28. This horizontal skirt is. effective for the purpose because the opposing streams of fluid from the upwardly moving skirt and from the cylinder-will meet and be thrown radially outwardly, Shaft 2| and preferably a die casting, which is fixed to the up tom ll of the tub to the operating mechanism disposed beneath the tub. To prevent leakage of fluid through this opening and to eliminate the necessity of a stuffing box, upper and lower bellowsfl and 28 of rubber or other fluid-proof flexible material are used. The upper end of the upper bellows 21 is secured by means of a metallic ring 29 or the like in fluid pressure tight relationship to shaft 2i at a point which will not interfere with the movement of the piston I8, and the lower end is similarly fixed tothe upper portion of fitting 23. The upper portion of bellows 26 is also similarly fixed to the lower end of fitting 23 and the lower end is fixed to a neck 30 on the operating mechanism housing 3| through which the sleeve 24 and shaft 2| pass. A nut 32 threaded on neck 36 compresses packing material against the bottom H of the tub which is pressed against the upper part of the housing 3| thereby preventing leakage of fluid at this point. A plurality of air vents 33 pass through fitting 23 next to sleeve 24 to connect the chambers formed by the upper and lower bellows 21 and 28 to relieve air pressure and vac-- uum produced during operation. The fitting 23 is also provided with a pluralityof water vents 34 next to the walls of the pulsator piston to rea strap 63 which carries a connecting rod 64 extending downwardly from the strap 63 and shaft 46 and which is connected at its lower end through a wrist pin 65 to the lower end of a yoke 66 of rectangular configuration which straddles shaft and 'is connected at its upper end to the lower end of rod 2| upon which pulsator cylinder H is mounted. The abutting hubs 59 of the eccentrics bear in a vertically split block 61 having oppositely disposed recesses which receive guides 68 which extend vertically along the inner side walls of the yoke 66. With this arrangement, eccentric 58 causes pulsator cylinder I! to vertically reciprocate in the tub l0 and eccentric 51 causes pulsator piston l8 and skirt l9 also to vertically reciprocate in the tub but in directions opposite to the direction of movement of the iieve water pressure in the upper portion of the pulsator piston during operation. In place of the lower bellows 28, a diaphragm, of rubber or other suitable material, of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 106,080, filed October 17, 1936, may be used.

The fluid circulating or propelling .means is driven by anelectric motor 36 through mechanism which is mechanically balanced and the parts of which move with complete symmetry of motion during all phases of the operative cycle. A belt 3'! runs over a small driving pulley 38 on the shaft of the motor and a larger driven pulley 39 which runs freely on one end of an eccentric shaft 46. Pulley 39 has an annular friction surface 4| on one face thereof which engages a cooperating friction surface 42 on one face of a disc 43 which is fixed to eccentric shaft 40 by a set screw 44. Pulley 39 and disc 43 are'normally disengaged due to the action of a, coil spring 45 on eccentric shaft 40 positioned within a recess in the hub of pulley 39. This pulley-disc arrangement constitutes a friction clutch which may be operated from the top of the machine. In the form shown, a handcrank 6 at the top of the tub Ill operates a vertically disposed rod 41 at the side of the tub, the lower end of which operates a link 68 which is pivotally connected at one end to a shaft 49 disposed in axial alignment with eccentric shaft 40 and with its other end in a socket of the shaft 40. A coil biasin spring 50 extending between a pin 5| on the frame of the machine and a properly located arm on-link l8, retains the clutch in engagement after it has been engaged.

The eccentric shaft 40 has bearings and 56 in the sides of the housing 3| and has keyed thereto within the housing, eccentrics 51 and 58 having laterally extending, abutting hub portions 59. The eccentrics are fixed to the shaft 46 in such manner that their maximum points of eccentricity are diametrically opposed. Eccentric 51 has a strap 60 which carries a connecting rod 6| extend ng upwardly from strap 60 and shaft 40 and which is connected at its upper end through a wrist pin 62 to an extension 63 fixed to sleeve 24 upon which the pulsator piston l8 and the skirt I6 are mounted. Eccentric 58 has cylinder ll. The strokes of the piston and cylinder are such that the piston moves into the cylinder as far as is practically possible to provide the maximum displacement. The several parts are vso proportioned that the weight of the cylinder I1 and the parts reciprocating with it are equal to the total weight of the piston l8 and skirt I9 and the parts reciprocating with them. The "opposed" relationship of the connecting rod 6! and 64, that is, the arrangement of the operating.

mechanism so .that connecting rod 6| extends above and is connected to sleeve 24 above a hori-- zontal plane passing through the axis of eccentric shaft 40, and so that connecting rod 64 extends below and is connected to shaft 2|, in effect; below such plane, results in absolute symmetry of motion through all phases of the operative cycle of the oppositely reciprocating parts and the parts connected to and moving with them with complete mechanical balance being obtained with resultantfreedom from vibration. It will be understood that complete symmetry of motion would not be obtained if both of the connecting rods GI and 64 extended in the same direction, that is, if they were both connected to the respective parts which they operate at the same side, either above or below, of a horizontal plane passing through the axis of eccentric shaft 40. Also since the cylinder I1, the piston l8 and the skirt I9 are disposed, and operate, in alignment with the axis of shaft 2|, and the eccentries are located and operate equidistantly from said axis and also operate in opposed relationship as previously mentioned, no unbalanced couples or forces will be produced during operation. So arranged, or similarly arranged, the fiuid circulating or propelling means and its operative mechanism is in absolute mechanical balance, so that no vibration results which originates in a mechanical source. Complete hydraulic balance is also obtained, due to the fact that the pulsator cylinder and piston are proportioned to perform the same amount of work on the fiuid in the tub on each stroke as the skirt performs, and since this work is done in opposite direction and in. alignment, no unbalanced forces result. It will i l9 are rapidly reciprocated with relatively short and I9 should be materially, faster than the articles being treated can follow such movement. Good results are obtained with a speed of the ecstrokes. The movement of the members l1, l8-

centric shaft of 500 R. P. M. with strokes of the At the same time, the skirt l9 has moved downwardly and has forced fluid from below the skirt radially outwardly along the bottom of the tub.

On the downstroke of the cylinder and the up- I stroke of the piston, flu d is expelled from the cylinder ina downward direction parallel to the wallof the cylinder through the annular opening 91 and'against the upwardly moving, outwardly and downwardly curving surface of the skirt I! which deflects the fluid downwardly and radially outwardly in the lower portion of the tub, with gradually increasing velocity as it moves over the skirt. On each upstroke of the skirt l9 fluid is forced outwardly and downwardly thereof due to the action of the upper surface of the skirt, and fluid is also drawn under the skirt and is expelled on the downstroke as previously described, along the bottom of the tub. Due to the flexibility and downward inclination of the fin 26 on the skirt l9, it pumps fluid toward the bottom of the tub in the upper portion of its downward stroke, while in the lower portion of its downward stroke it flattens out due to the radial flow of water from under the skirt l9 thus allowing free escape of thefluid from under the skirt. The use of the fln also makes it possible to bring the skirt almost into contact with the bottom of the tub at the end of its downstroke without danger of injury to one who might put his hand under it, whereby it functions as a safety feature.

With rapid reciprocation of these elements l1, l8

and l9,the fluid is subjected to a series of unidirectional', intermittent jerks or pushes which result in the fluid and the articles therein being continually moved in unidirectional circulatory paths about'these elements in directioris radially outwardly along the bottom of the tub, upwardly along the wall thereof, radially inwardly at the" upper portion of the body of. fluid and downwardly along the cylinder I! and piston l8 as indicated by the direction-of-flow arrows in Fig. 1.

Y spread through the .article I 3 and gradually fed ,downwardly. These Jerks that its other portions and other endlare 11 rated from the other articles which have not yet entered said zone,

thus untangling the article. At the beginningflof the fluid treating operation; the action of pulsator on the fluid heretofore described, breaks up bubbles of air in articles such as clothes and the like, which if left unbroken would cause the articles to float on the top of the fluid, and pushes the articles under the surface of the fluid. During normal operation, when the machine is not jammed-so that the motion ofthe articles is not restricted, the articles ordinarily do not come in actual contact with the rubber ring 20 on the cylinder I! or with the rubber ring 28 on the skirt IS. The scrubbing action produced by the machine, results primarily from the vigorous flexing and shaking of the articles as previously described during the circulatory movement.

, As an illustrative example, but without limiting effect, a washing machine embodying the form of the invention heretofore described and having the dimensions set forth, when-operated at speeds between 450 and 500 R. P. M. with a full load of eight pounds of clothes, completed the wash in ten minutes without previous soaking of the clothes. Pulsai'nr cylinder-4 in. in diameter and 7% in. in axial length. Pulsator piston-2% in.

in diameter and 6 in. in axial lengthto'the piston skirt. Piston skirt without fin-6V2 in. bottom diameter and 2% in. axial length. Fin on skirt- 8% in. in, its outermost diameter. Mechanism stroke1% in. With previous soaking of the clothes, the washing time would be less than ten minutes. Actual tests with this machine have resulted in washings at least 33%;% faster than the washing time required by conventional washing machines now onthe market in a ten minute washing test, with 20% lesswear on washed clothes, measured by the amount of lint collected after two hours of continuous washing.

The conventional worm and gear wringer drive, driven by a belt from the loose pulley 39 may be used if desired. However, the form of wringer drive disclosed in Fig. l eliminates the necessity for the gear, worm, bearings and an oil tight housing required for such conventional 'drive and thereby effects considerable saving in manufacture. As shown, the wringer is driven from loose pulley 39 by a belt 10 which is driven by a small pulley ll fixed to the loose pulley 39,

- the belt ll driving a relatively large pulley 12 These short, fast fluid jerks, pushes, or squirts originate at the open edge of the pulsator cylinder and at the edge of the skirt-and set up a series of rapid pulsations in the fluid which spread throughout the body of the fluid and result in the pulsing or forcing of the fluid through the fabric of articles being treated. They also cause rapid shakingand flexing of the articles being treated with consequent scrubbing due to the rubbing of the articles one on another and rubbingof parts of each article on other partsin the active zones adjacent the open lower end of the pulsator cylinder l1 and at the lower edge of the skirt I9. As the articles move into the aforesaid active zones, the end of an article flrst coming under the influence of the zone adjacent the pulsator cylinder is vigorously shaken, scrubbed and jerked which is horizontally positioned and is flxed to the end of the wringer drive shaft 13 disposed in a housing '14. A. bevelled gear on the up lper .end of the drive shaft 13 mesheswith a bev led gear on the shaft of the lower wringer roll. The wringer I5 mounted at the top of the tub I0 is 6 provided with the usual drain board I6. A

spring-pressed pulley 11 engages the belt I0 to prevent it from running off the pulleys II and I2.- With this arrangement, the proper speed for the wringer is obtained through the speed reduction resultng from the use of the loose pulley 39 which is used to drive the machine mechanism and the small pulley 1| flxed thereto. It will be appreciated that the belt wringer drive is possible only because of the use of the loose pulley JO-in the mechanism for driving the fluid circulating or propelling, means. It is believed this form of wringer drive has not been used before.

It may b advantageous to provide a depression" in the ttom of the tub into which the piston skirt or disc drops at the bottom of the downstroke, which will cause the velocity of the fluid ejected from under the skirt to beincreased and its direction of flow altered depending upon the shape of the surface of the depression.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, the arrangement of the fluid circulating or propelling means is the same as the other form shown in Fig. 1, excepting that the pulsator cylinder 80 is stationary and the eccentric 58 and connecting rod 64 drive a vertically reciprocable counterweight 8| to obtain the same mechanical balance obtained in the other form. Cylinder 80 is mounted upon the upper end of shaft 82 which is fixed at its lower end to a cross bar 83 in the mechanism housing 84. The counterweight 8| moves between spaced guides 85 which are fixed in the housing 84. The weight of counterweight 8| will, of course, equal the weight of the pulsator piston I0, the skirt l9 and the parts reciprocating therewith. In operation, on the upstroke, the skirt l9 moves a volume of water upwardly and outwardly and the piston l8 ejects a volume of water downwardly from the cylinder 80 parallel to the wall of the cylinder and against the curved upper surface of the skirt l9. The sizes of the pulsator cylinder and piston and the skirt I9 are so proportioned that the two actions just described neutralize each other thereby producing hydraulic balance. On the downstroke, fluid is sucked into the cylinder 80 from all directions so that no hydraulic unbalance results. Also on the downstroke, the skirt l9 ejects fluid radially therefrom along the bottom of the tub which also results in no hydraulic unbalance. In this form of the invention, as in the other form, both mechanical and hydraulic balance are maintained at all times. To provide the same fluid displacement per stroke and the same downward speed of the fluid ejected from the cylinder as in the other embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the crosssectional area of piston l8 should be twice that of the piston in Fig. 1 and the area of the cylinder 80 should be sufilciently great so that the flow area of the annular clearance 91 between the piston and the cylinder will be the same as in Fig. 1. This follows from the fact that in this embodiment the stroke of the fluid circulating and propelling means is onehalf of that in Fig. 1, due to the fact that the cylinder 80 is stationary. For example, if the piston of Fig. 1 is 2% in. in diameter and the cylinder 4 in. in diameter, the piston in Fig. 3 should be approximately 3% in. in diameter and the cylinder 4% in. in diameter. Otherwise, the proportions of the several parts are the same as in the other form, and the results obtained are the same as described in connection with the other form, including the unidirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles being treated and the washing action produced which comprises pulsating of the fluid through the fabric of the articles, the flexing and shaking of the articles which produces rubbing contact of the articles as previously described with consequent scrubbing of the articles on themselves, together with the separating and untangling of the articles resulting from the pulling forces produced by the series of short fastfluid jerks produced by the action of the pulsator cylinder and the piston. During the first few strokes of the fluid circulating or propellingv means in both forms disclosed, the air is knocked out of the cylinder, after which the action is entirely hydraulic.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a form of drive for the machine which maybe employed in lieu of the porting a stationary cylinder.

ing. Although the fluid propelling and directing which and the hub portion 93 of the pulley 39 are a plurality of rollers 94 which are springpress'ed away from the radial surfaces 95 of the cup-shaped member. With this arrangement, it

is only necessary to reverse the motor 36 which drives the pulley 39 to engage or disengage the mechanism for driving the fluid circulating or propelling means, while the wringer 15 remains available at all times. An ordinary ratchet and pawl mechanism may. be, used in place of this free wheeling arrangement, if desired.

If desired, the outer wall of the piston l8 and skirt is may be provided with a plurality of small rubber projections or a plurality of spaced rubber ridges or flanges to provide an actual mechanical scrubbing action on the articles as they move past these members. Other suitable material than rubber may be usedfor thispurpose if desired. v

Fig. 10 illustrates another supporting arrangement for a stationary cylinder. In this arrangement, the cylinder I00 is mounted on one end of an arm IN, the other end of which is secured to the tub 10 or to any part associated with the tub. Preferably, the supporting arm is positioned so that it is above the level of the fluid in the tub where it will not interfere with the circulation of the fluid or the articles moving therein. With this arrangement, a single shaft projects through the tub which supports the piston l8 and its skirt I9. Either bellows or a diaphragm, heretofore mentioned, may be used for packing the shaft where it passes through the tub and housing. If desired, the arm I (ll may be attached to the tub in such manner that it may be moved tothereby move the cylinder from above the piston when desired.

Fig. 11 shows a further arrangement for sup- The piston I05 is mounted on a shaft I06. A stationary sleeve I01 is threaded into the housing 84 at its lower end and has a fitting I00 at its upper end into which are secured three equidistantly spaced rods I09 which pass through apertures in the top of the piston I05 and to the tops of which is secured the cylinder H0. This arrangement eliminates the necessity for a lower bellows, such as the bellows 28, Fig. 1, and for a bearing in the housmeans is disclosed herein as being centrally or axially disposed in the hub l0, it will be understood that other positions of said means in the tub will produce satisfactory results, such as any suitable off-Center position and in some instances it may even. be disposed closely adjacent the wall of the tub.

Variations in the rate of speed of the eccentric shaft and consequent variations in the rate at which the fluid propelling and directing means reciprocates may be readily accomplished by any suitable means, such for example, as a belt drive which will provide speed variations between the -motor 36 and the loose pulley 39.

Due to the unique character of the circulatory motion obtained in the machine of my invention, the shape of the tub is immaterial except as otherwise mentioned herein, and roundedcorners or inclined walls or the like are unnecessary;

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes maybe made in the'form, location,

relative arrangement and the materials of the several parts of the machine disclosed without comprising a tub. a pulsator cylinderhaving a closed upper end and an open lower end which remains submerged in the. fluid in the tub, a pulsator piston having a portion reciprocable within but spaced from the walls of the cylinder and operable through the open end of the cylinder, a fluid propelling and directing member operable with said piston and spaced from the open end of the cylinder and having a fluid engaging surface extending radially outwardly from the axis of the piston, and means for reciprocating the piston, the arrangement being such that fluid is drawn radially inwardly toward and into the cylinderv and is discharged from the cylinder toward and against the upper surface of said member which causes the fluid to flow radially outwardly and downwardiythereof, the lower surface of said member being operable to force fluid radially outwardly thereof along the bottom of the tub, whereby unidirectional, circulatory movement of the fluid andtheartlcles through the tub is produced. I.

2. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a stationary pulsator cylinder having a closed upper end and an open lower end which remains submerged in the fluid in the tub, a pulsator piston having a portion reciprocable within but spaced from the walls of the cylinder and operable through the open end of the cylinder, a fluid propelling and directing member operable with *S81d piston and' spaced from the open end of the cylinder and having a fluid engaging surface extending radially'outwardly from the axis of the piston, and means for reciprocating the piston, the arrangement being such that fluid is drawn radially inwardly toward and into the cylinder and is discharged from the cylinder toward and against the upper surface of said member which causes the fluid to flow radially outwardly and downwardly thereof, the lower surface of said member being operelement disposed at the open end portion of said able to force vfluid radially outwardly thereof along the bottom of the tub, wherebyunidlrec tional, circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles through the tub is produced.

3. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a pulsator cylinder having a closed upper end and. an open lower end which remains submerged in the upper portion of the fluid in the tub, said cylinder being reciprocable in an axial direction and having outer walls extending through the surface of the fluid in the tub and disposed parallel to the direction of movement of the cylinder, a pulsator piston having a portion reciprocable within but spaced from the walls of the cylinder and operable through the open end of thecylinder, a fluid propelling and directingmem-ber operable with said piston and spaced from the open end of the cylinder and having a fluid engaging surface extending radially outwardly from the axis of the piston, and means for reciprocating the cylinder and piston in opposite direction, the arrangement being such that fluid is drawn radially inwardly toward and into the cylinder and is discharged from the cylinder toward and against the upper surface of said member which causes the fluid to'flow radially outwardly and downwardly thereof, the lower surface of said member being operable to force fluid radially outwardly thereof along the'bottom of the tub. whereby unidirectional, circulatory movement-oi the fluid and the operable with said piston and spaced from the;

cylinder, said cylinder, piston and member being constructed and disposed in the tub and in relation to each other so asto perform substantially the same amount of work in opposite directions on the fluid on each stroke to thereby hydraulically balance the devices operating in the fluid in the tub.

5. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub and fluid propelling means in the tub comprising a reciprocable pulsator cylinder, a pulsator piston having a portion inthe cylinder and oppositely reciprocable with respect to the cylinder and spaced from the wall thereof to provide a fluid passage of substantial flow area between the piston and cylinder, and a fluid propelling member reciprocable with the piston andspaced from the end of the cylinder.

6. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub and fluid propelling means, in the tub comprising a stationary pulsator cylinder, a reciprocable pulsator piston having a portion in the cylinder and spaced from the wall thereof to provide a fluid passage if substantial flow area between the piston and cylinder, and a fluid propelling member reciprocable with the comprising a tub, a hollow tubular member havx ing one end closed and the other end open, said member being disposed so that its open end remains below the normal fluid level in the tub, an

member for reciprocation in axial aligmnent therewith and in spaced relationshi thereto and having a surface' extending radially outwardly unidirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced.

8. Apparatus for treating'articles with fluid comprising a tub, a hollow tubular member hav ing one end'closed and the other end open, said member being disposed so that its open end remains below the normal fluid level in the tub, an element disposed at the open end portion of said member for reciprocation in axial alignment therewith and in spaced relationship thereto, said element having a portion of convex configuration disposed to cooperate with the open end portion of said memberand a surface extending-radially outwardly from its axis of reciprocation, and A means for rapidly reciprocating said element, whereby reciprocation oi the element displaces fluid from the hollow member and fluid is drawn into the zone between said member and said element and is discharged against said radially outwardly extending surface and rapidly pulsating unidirectional impulses are generated in the fluid and unidirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced;

9. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a hollow tubular member having one end closed and the other end open with the open end portion flared outwardly, said member being disposed so that its open end remains below the normal fluid level in the tub, an element disposed at the open end portion of said member for reciprocation in axial alignment therewith and in spaced relationship thereto and having a surface extending radially outwardly from its axis of reciprocation, and means for rapidly reciprocating said element whereby reciprocation of the element displaces fluid from the hollow member and fluid is drawn into the zone between said member and said element and is discharged against said radially outwardly extending surface and rapidly pulsating unidirectional impulses are generated in the I end portion of said member for reciprocation in element, whereby-reciprocation of the element displaces fluid from the hollow member and fluid is drawn into the zone between said member and said element and is discharged against said radially outwardly extending surface and rapidly pulsating unidirectional impulses are generated in the fluid and unidirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced.

12. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a reciprocable hollow tubular member having one end closed and the other end open, said member being disposed so that its open end remains below the normal fluid level in the .tub, an element disposed at the open axial alignment therewith and in spaced relationship thereto and having a surface extending radially outwardly from its axis of reciprocation, and means for rapidly reciprocating said fluid and unidirectional circulatory movement of v the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced.

10. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a hollow tubular member having one end closed and the other end open, said member being disposed so that its open end remains below the normal fluid level in the tub, an element disposed at the open end portion of said member for reciprocation in axial alignment therewith and in spaced relationship thereto and having a surface extending radially outwardly from its longitudinal axis and a flexible surface extending outwardly from the peripheral portion of the first mentioned surface,

and means for rapidly reciprocating said element, whereby reciprocation of the element displaces fluid from the hollow member and fluid is drawn into the zone between said member and said element and is discharged against the first mentioned surface of said element and rapidly pulsating unidirectional impulses are generated in the fluid and unidirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced.

11. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a stationary hollow tubular member having one end closed and, the other.

end open, said member being disposed so that its open end remainsbelow the normal fluid level in the tub, an element disposed at the open end portion of said member for reciprocation in axial alignment therewith and in spaced relamember and said element in opposite directions, whereby reciprocation of said member and said element displaces fluid from the hollow member and fluid is drawn into the zone between said member and said element and is discharged against said radially outwardly extending surface and rapidly pulsating unidirectional impulses are generated in the fluid and unidirectional circulatory movement of the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced.

13. Apparatus for treating articles with fluid comprising a tub, a hollow tubular member having its upper end closed and its lower end open, said member being disposed so that its lower openend remains below the normal fluid level in the tub, an element disposed at the lower open end portion of said member for reciprocation in axial alignment therewith and in spaced relationship thereto, said element having a portion of convex configuration disposed to cooperate with the lower open end of said member and a surface extending radially outwardly and downwardly from its axis of reciprocation and a flexible surface extending outwardly from the peripheral portion of the first mentioned surface, and 'meansfor rapidly reciprocating said tionship thereto and having a surface extending v element, whereby reciprocation of the element displaces-'lfluid from the hollow member and fluid is drawn into the zone between said member and said element and is discharged against the first mentioned surface of said element and -rapidly pulsating unidirectional impulses are generated in the fluid and unidirectional circu-' latory movement of the fluid and the articles in the tub is produced.

' GEORGE KUHN. 

